A cancer diagnosis of any kind is a jolt. But after the tidal wave of anxiety about your physical future subsides, other daunting questions stare you in the face.<\/p>\n
How do you pay for this? Can you be denied cancer treatment based on your ability to pay? Does Medicare pay for cancer treatments?<\/p>\n
The cost of treating cancer can be enormous. Prescription medications for some cancers can cost tens of thousands of dollars per month. The total cost of treatment is virtually impossible to calculate up front because so many variables are in play.<\/p>\n
And most insurance plans only go so far. The thought of paying the balance can be crippling. You might even consider ignoring your doctors or skipping treatments. Stephanie Wilfong, manager of Patient Financial Clearance for OSF HealthCare<\/a>, says don\u2019t skip treatment because there are options.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think that costs will prohibit you from getting cancer treatments,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want anyone in a situation where they have to decide not to have treatment because of financial concerns. There are many resources available, and we\u2019re here to provide financial help and find assistance programs.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to understand what goes into figuring out the total cost of cancer care.<\/p>\n That first visit with your primary care provider, screening and diagnostic tests are only the beginning. Once cancer is confirmed, you\u2019ll visit specialists and determine a treatment plan.<\/p>\n Need financial guidance?<\/p>\n Speak with a financial navigator | OSF HealthCare.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Treatment can range from simple outpatient procedures to chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Specialists, prescriptions and fees for equipment, facilities and labs all get added to the bill. Next are follow-ups, which are spread over months and years and can last a lifetime.<\/p>\n Then there are the so-called \u201cother costs.\u201d They don\u2019t always show up on a bill, but they are very real:<\/p>\n \u201cCancer treatments can be costly, overloading the best insurance plans and biggest saving accounts,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want cancer to ruin your life savings and impact your quality of life. We want to make sure you are focusing on the future. And we\u2019re connecting you to resources that can help you through treatment and into survivorship.\u201d<\/p>\nThe cost of cancer<\/h2>\n
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